Obituary of Don Richard Bauer

Don R. Bauer 1945-2023

Age 78, of Spencer, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, September 7, 2023, at Marshfield Medical Center.

Memorial Services will be held at 11 AM on Thursday, September 14, 2023, at Life Tributes Funeral Home in Spencer with Pastor Heather Brown officiating. Burial will follow in Hillside Cemetery-Marshfield with full military honors being conducted. Family and friends are invited to gather at the funeral home on Wednesday, September 13 from 4 PM to 6:30 PM and again on Thursday from 10 AM until time of services. The honor of pallbearer belongs to: Ken Vandehey, Charlie Brown, Frank Ule, Florian Wisinski, Cody Bauer and Carter Bauer.

Don was born in Marshfield on February 15, 1945, to Willard and Bernice (Johnson) Bauer. He attended Marshfield Senior High School. Afterwards, Don joined the Army National Guard where he served from 1966 to 1971. On April 27, 1968, he was united in marriage to Sharon Bluhm at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Marshfield. Don was employed at Kohl’s Machine Shop, Capital Furniture, Mittens Appliance and Louie’s Refrigeration before going out on his own to operate his own successful appliance business known by many as Bauer’s Appliance in Wisconsin Rapids. Don was devoted to providing great customer service and being available should anyone need repairs or new appliance purchases.

His hobbies included fishing and hunting, especially deer, partridge and turkey as well as trapping. He enjoyed watching NASCAR, especially his favorite driver Dale Earnhardt, tinkering in the garage, feeding or watching birds, bowling and playing cards. He most enjoyed spending time with family and friends up north on Connor’s Lake in Winter, WI.  He was the chairman for Walleyes for Tomorrow-Price County Chapter.

Those who will cherish his memory included his wife, Sharon; his sons, Rodney (Lorrie) Bauer of McMillan and David (Jill Senso) Bauer of Seymour; his grandson, Cody (Carlie Schreiner) Bauer of Marshfield; his granddaughter, Alysha Bauer of McMillan; his great-grandson, Carter Bauer of Marshfield and sisters-in-law: Audry Bluhm of Marshfield, Sharon Bluhm of Stratford, Sharon Dimitt of Johnson, KS and Clara Schiller of Westminster, MD along with many other relatives and friends.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, Willard and Bernice Bauer; his mother and father-in-law, Henry and Mildred Bluhm; his uncle, George Bauer; his godfather, Edward Johnson; and his brothers-in-law, Dennis (Mary Ann) Bluhm, Delmar Bluhm, Donald Bluhm, Dale Bluhm, Gerald Bluhm and James Bluhm.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Don’s name can be directed to American Diabetes Association.

Don’s arrangements are under the care of Life Tributes Funeral Home-Spencer. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.lifetributesfuneralhome.com.